Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Monday that defensive end Myles Garrett will return to practice this week, potentially marking his first on-field activity since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery early in the season. This development comes as a major boost to the Rams' defense, which has struggled without its star pass rusher.
Garrett has been sidelined since the Rams' season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. His absence has coincided with the team's inconsistent performance, starting the season at 2-4 before securing consecutive wins to reach .500.
Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie expressed enthusiasm about Garrett's impending return. "We are excited anytime we get anyone back, especially a guy like Myles," McDuffie stated. "Just getting him back on the practice field will be really good. Just knowing we’re getting him back to a defense that is going uphill is awesome."
The Rams' defensive line has been further depleted by injuries, with Poona Ford out for the season due to a triceps injury and Kobie Turner dealing with a groin issue expected to keep him sidelined for several more weeks. Garrett's return could significantly alter the team's defensive strategy. His presence would alleviate pressure on Aaron Donald, as opposing offenses would no longer be able to solely focus on double-teaming him without facing a significant threat from Garrett off the edge. This could lead to more one-on-one matchups for other pass rushers and potentially reduce the need for blitzing.
McVay indicated that the team will assess Garrett's readiness throughout the week to determine if he can play in Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders or if a longer ramp-up period will be necessary. Regardless, his return to practice signals a positive step towards his game-day availability, which could have a substantial impact on the Rams' defensive capabilities and their playoff aspirations.